Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic scored more points than the entire Clippers starting 5 on historic night

Billy Heyen

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Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic scored more points than the entire Clippers starting 5 on historic night image

On the second night of a back-to-back, Nikola Jokic could've started slow.

Instead, the Denver Nuggets' superstar center put up 25 points in the first quarter and never looked back, finishing with an uber-efficient 55 points to beat the Los Angeles Clippers.

In the process, Jokic finished with more points by himself than were scored by the entire starting five for the Clippers.

That breakdown, if you're curious:

  • James Harden 23
  • Ivica Zubac 18
  • Derrick Jones Jr. 8
  • Kris Dunn 3
  • John Collins 2

That's 54 points, for those keeping score at home.

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Jokic also put up 12 rebounds, six assists, a block and a steal. 

And a night after going 16-for-19 from the floor, he could again barely miss.

Jokic finished 18-for-23 (78.3%) on this night. He made 5-of-6 from 3-point range (83.3%). And he was 14-for-16 from the foul line (87.5%).

Only three other Nuggets were in double figures, none with more than Aaron Gordon's 18 points (Jamal Murray 15, Tim Hardaway Jr. 12) and yet the Nuggets finished with 130 points anyway.

Jokic began the season struggling from 3-point range and not scoring quite as much as he has in recent years, but he has quickly put that by the wayside.

He now ranks 12th in the NBA in scoring (26.2 PPG), first in rebounding (13.2 RPG) and first in assists (11.4 APG) while shooting 66.9% from the floor, fifth in the league.

Jokic is one of four superstars playing at absolutely incredible levels to begin the season, along with Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. There might be one difficult MVP vote looming at the end of the year.

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